When you think of confidence, what comes to mind? Images of people standing tall and walking proud? You know, those with strong self-esteem or a positive attitude? Maybe it’s a brand name you’ve come to know and trust, things that are tried and true.
We place confidence in the things we have learned to trust. We are confident the sun will rise and set each day. That the key fob will start the engine of our car each morning. That the chair we are sitting in right now is sturdy and strong enough to hold us. Confidence implies strength, dependability, and reliability… things that stand the test of time.
Why then, do we find it so difficult to place our confidence in God? He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13) and the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Do we rejoice and celebrate Him when things go well because all good things come from Him and He is worthy to be praised? What about when we are in a season of difficulty? Do we lean in, cry out, and cling to Him when things are bad knowing He is our Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us? Your answer may be yes because God has proven time and time again that He loves you beyond measure, and He can heal your hurting heart.
But what about when things are just… average? I don’t know about you, but that’s when I have the hardest time having confidence in God. Do you ever struggle in the waiting period? The ‘not yet’ season? The times when we don’t know how things will turn out? Those moments where the things we hope for have not yet become reality in our lives? I struggle in those moments! I know beyond doubt that God is big enough to calm the storms and bring life back to the seemingly dead, but I seem to lose confidence when I don’t see how the story will end. Can you relate?
Trusting God almost seems easier in the times of miracles or season of dependence because we know He is our hope. Silence doesn’t take away His strength and ability, but it can be used to grow our faith. It isn’t difficult to trust what we see; God wants us to trust what we can’t see. He wants us to have faith. When we have confidence God can and will do what we hope for, we develop faith in our Creator no matter how long the waiting season takes. Remember, the Teacher is always silent during the test…
Be blessed,
Jennifer
“Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1